Suction structure of robot vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

A suction structure of a robot vacuum cleaner according to the present invention is disclosed. The suction structure of a robot vacuum cleaner according to the present invention includes a suction module which is located on a bottom surface of a main body of the robot vacuum cleaner to suck foreign matters in accordance with the rotation of the brush while being lifted up or down in accordance with a surface condition of the floor and the suction module includes a flow path connecting unit which is formed at one side thereof to be inserted into a flow path unit formed in the main body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0021961 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 24, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a robot vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to a suction structure of a robot vacuum cleaner in which a suction module is lifted up or down depending on a surface condition of a floor.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, a robot vacuum cleaner refers to a device which autonomously moves a cleaning area to suck and remove foreign matters such as dust or trash on a floor even though a user does not operate the device.

The robot vacuum cleaner travels an outer periphery of the cleaning area surrounded by walls or obstacles to determine an area to be cleaned using a sensor installed in a main body, plans a cleaning route for cleaning the determined cleaning area, and travels the planned cleaning route while calculating a traveling distance and a current position during the cleaning process.

However, when the robot vacuum cleaner is used, a cleaning state may vary depending on a surface condition of the floor, that is, there may be an area which is well cleaned and an area which is not well cleaned. The reason is because a suction structure which sucks foreign matters is fixed to a cleaner main body. Specifically, when the robot vacuum cleaner travels on a carpet, the cleaning is not smoothly performed so that a cleaning efficiency may be lowered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a suction structure of a robot vacuum cleaner which is configured to lift up or down a suction module and includes a flow path inserting unit formed in a rectangular cross-sectional shape in the suction module to be inserted into a flow path unit of the main body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a suction structure of a robot vacuum cleaner including a holding member for fixing a rotating shaft of the suction module.

However, an object of the present invention is not limited to the above description and other objects which have not been mentioned above will be more apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following description.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a suction structure of a robot vacuum cleaner according to the present invention comprises a suction module which is located on a bottom surface of a main body of the robot vacuum cleaner and sucks foreign matters while rotating in accordance with a surface condition of the area to be cleaned and a holding member which fixes one side of the suction module to be rotatable within a predetermined distance.

The suction module may include a main brush which sucks the foreign matters while rotating in accordance with the surface condition of the area to be cleaned, a housing unit in which the main brush is disposed and a support unit which is formed at one side of the housing unit to be mounted in the main body and supports the main brush to rotate in accordance with the surface condition of the area to be cleaned.

The main brush may include a blade which rotates to guide the foreign substances into the main body and a rotating shaft which is coupled to the blade to rotate the blade.

One end of the rotating shaft may be open to be coupled to a motor which supplies power to rotate the blade.

The housing unit may include a deviation preventing unit which prevents the main brush from deviating while the blade rotates.

The holding member may fix the support unit to one side of the main body so that the main brush rotates within a predetermined distance and form a space where the support unit is lifted up or down.

The holding member may include a holder which covers the end of the support unit to be fixed to one side of the main body so that the main brush rotates within a predetermined distance.

The suction structure of a robot vacuum cleaner according to the present invention may further comprise an elastic member which is located in a space formed between the support unit and the holding member to enhance the contact between the main brush and the area to be cleaned.

The support unit may include a first support unit and a second support unit which are formed at one side of the housing unit to be mounted in the main body and are disposed in parallel to be spaced apart from each other.

The holding member may include a first holder which covers an end of the first support unit, a second holder which covers an end of the second support unit and a connecting unit which connects the first holder and the second holder, and the first holder and the second holder fix the first support unit and the second support unit to one side of the main body, respectively, so that the main brush rotates within a predetermined distance.

Ends of the first support unit and the second support unit may be formed in a cylindrical shape to allow the main brush to be lifted up or down.

The suction module may further include a flow path connecting unit which is formed at one side of the housing unit to be inserted into a flow path unit formed in the main body.

The flow path connecting unit may have a pipe shape having a rectangular cross section to form a flow path. The flow path connecting unit may be inserted into the flow path unit formed in the main body to maintain a predetermined interval from an inside of the flow path into which the outside thereof is inserted.

The flow path connecting unit may be lifted up or down in the flow path unit formed in the main body as the suction module rotates in accordance with the surface condition of the floor.

According to the present invention, a suction structure of a robot vacuum cleaner is configured to ascend or descend a suction module and includes a flow path inserting unit formed in a rectangular cross-sectional shape in the suction module to be inserted into a flow path unit of the main body, thereby minimizing a suction force loss even though a surface of the floor is uneven.

Further, according to the present invention, a suction structure of a robot vacuum cleaner includes a holding member for fixing a rotating shaft of the suction module so that the suction module is prevented from deviating beyond a limited distance.

Further, according to the present invention, the suction structure of the robot vacuum cleaner is configured to lift up or down the suction module depending on a surface condition of the floor to minimize the suction force loss, thereby improving the cleaning state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outward appearance of a robot vacuum cleaner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a bottom surface of a robot vacuum cleaner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a suction structure of a robot vacuum cleaner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a detailed structure of a suction module illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a detailed structure of a holding member illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views illustrating a state in which a suction module is lifted up and down.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a suction structure of a robot vacuum cleaner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings. Parts which are required to understand an operation and an effect of the present invention will be mainly described in detail.

In the description of components of an exemplary embodiment, a component having the same name may be denoted by a different reference numeral in some drawings but may be denoted by the same reference numeral even in different drawings. However, even in this case, it does not mean that the component has different functions depending on the exemplary embodiment or the components have the same function in the different exemplary embodiments but the function of each of the components may be determined based on the description of the components in the corresponding exemplary embodiment.

Specifically, in the present invention, a new suction structure of a robot vacuum cleaner which is configured to lift up or down the suction module depending on a surface condition of a floor and includes a flow path inserting unit formed in a rectangular cross-sectional shape in the suction module to be inserted into a flow path unit of the main body and a holding member for fixing a rotating shaft of the suction module has been suggested.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outward appearance of a robot vacuum cleaner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a robot vacuum cleaner 100 according to the present invention is formed in a circular shape and cleans an area to be cleaned while traveling the cleaning area using a sensor unit 111 installed in a main body. The main body of the robot vacuum cleaner may include various components necessary for cleaning, such as a display unit, a controller, a driving unit, and a suction unit as well as the sensor unit.

In this case, the robot vacuum cleaner 100 may be formed not only in a circular shape, but also in various shapes.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a bottom surface of a robot vacuum cleaner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, on the bottom surface of the main body of the robot vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, a suction module 120 and a holding member 130 for fixing the suction module 120 may be provided.

The suction module 120 is located on the bottom surface of the main body 110 and is lifted up or down depending on a surface condition of the floor to suck foreign matters such as dust as blades mounted therein rotates. The suction module 120 may rotate according to the surface condition of the area to be cleaned and suck foreign matters such as dust in accordance with the rotation of the blades mounted in the suction module 120.

The holding member 130 may fix one side of the suction module 120 so that the suction module 120 is lifted up or down within a predetermined distance. Therefore, the suction module 120 may rotate within a predetermined distance depending on the surface condition of an area to be cleaned, by the holding member 130.

Further, a plurality of wheels 141, 142, and 143 for traveling may be provided on a bottom surface of the main body. That is, one wheel 141 is mounted in a front region of the bottom surface of the main body and two wheels 142 and 143 are mounted in a center region of the bottom surface of the main body to be supplied with power from a motor.

Further, auxiliary brushes 151 and 152 are mounted on the bottom surface of the main body to be rotatable. The auxiliary brushes 151 and 152 may move the foreign matters such as dust on the peripheral floor to the center of the main body 110 and clean the dust accumulated in the boundary between the floor and the wall surface.

In this case, various types of sensors may be provided on at least one side of the holding member 130 to determine whether the suction module 120 or the holding member 130 is deviated. For example, a horizontal sensor is provided on at least one side of the holding member 130 to determine whether the suction module 120 or the holding member 130 is deviated from a movable range when the suction module 120 or the holding member 130 is lifted up or down, that is, by a predetermined angle or more.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a suction structure of a robot vacuum cleaner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a detailed structure of a suction module illustrated in FIG. 3; and FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a detailed structure of a holding member illustrated in FIG. 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, on the bottom surface of the robot vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, the suction module 120 is located. The suction module 120 is fitted into a recess formed on the bottom surface to be located in the main body.

Referring to FIG. 4, the suction module 120 may include a main brush 121, a support unit 122, a flow path connecting unit 123, and a housing unit 124.

The main brush 121 may be disposed in the housing unit 124.

The main brush 121 may include a blade 121 a which guides the foreign matters into the main body so that the suction module 120 sucks the foreign matters such as dust and a rotating shaft 121 b which is coupled to the blade 121 a to rotate the blade 121 a. Therefore, when the blade 121 a which is coupled to the rotating shaft 121 b rotates, the main brush 121 sucks the foreign matters such as dust from the surface of the cleaning area. The above-described blade 121 a may be implemented by a material having elasticity, such as plastic or rubber, but is not limited thereto.

The main brush 121 may be disposed in the housing unit 124. Specifically, in the housing unit 124, the blade 121 a which is coupled to the rotating shaft 121 b may be located. The housing unit 124 may include a deviation preventing unit 124 a to prevent the main brush 121 from deviating from the housing unit 124 when the blade 121 a included in the main brush 121 located in the housing unit 124 rotates. Therefore, the deviation preventing unit 124 a fixes the main brush 121 in the housing unit 124 that even though the blade 121 a included in the main brush 121 rotates, the main brush 121 may not deviate from the housing unit 124.

end 121 c of the rotating shaft 121 b may be open to be coupled to a motor which supplies power for rotating the blade 121 a. Further, the housing unit 124 to which the open end 121 c of the rotating shaft 121 b is fixed is also open so that the open end 121 c of the rotating shaft 121 b is coupled to the motor.

Therefore, the main brush 121 includes the blade 121 a mounted therein and rotates the mounted blade 121 a to suck the foreign matters such as dust, from the passing floor surface.

The support unit 122 is formed to protrude from one side of the housing unit 124 to serve as a lever to allow the main brush 121 to be lifted up or down depending on the surface condition of the floor. That is, since the support unit 122 is fixed to one side of the main body, the main brush 121 may rotate.

The support unit 122 may be configured by a first support unit 122 a and a second support unit 122 b which are disposed in parallel to be spaced apart from each other. In this case, the first support unit 122 a and the second support unit 122 may be formed in a cylindrical shape so that ends thoseof form a rotating shaft as the main brush 121 is lifted up or down.

The reason why each end of the support unit is formed in a cylindrical shape is to smoothly perform the rotation in accordance with the lifting up or down of the support unit.

In the present invention, two support units which serve as levers of the main brush 121 are provided, but the present invention is not limited thereto and one or a plurality of support units may be provided as needed.

The flow path connecting unit 123 is formed to protrude from one side of the housing unit 124 to be inserted into a flow path (not illustrated) formed in the main body to transmit the sucked foreign matters such as dust.

The flow path connecting unit 123 may be formed to be a pipe shape having a rectangular cross-section to collect air and then form a flow path. However, it is not limited thereto and may be formed to have a pipe shape having various shapes of cross-sections.

The flow path connecting unit 123 is inserted into the flow path unit formed in the main body. An outside of the flow path connecting unit may have a size to maintain a predetermined interval from an inside of the inserted flow path unit. That is, an outer diameter of the flow path connecting unit 120 may be formed to be smaller than an inner diameter of the flow path unit.

The flow path connecting unit 123 may be formed such that the main brush 121 is lifted up or down without deviating from the flow path unit formed in the main body as the main brush 121 is lifted up or down depending on the surface condition of the floor.

Further, the holding member 130 is provided to fix the support unit of the suction module 120. The holding member 130 may be mounted to be fitted to the recess formed on the bottom surface of the main body.

Referring to FIG. 5, the holding member 130 may form a space where the support unit of the suction module is lifted up or down between the main body and the holding member 130 so that the suction module is lifted up or down within a predetermined distance. The holding member 130 may include holders 132 a and 132 b which cover an end of the support unit of the suction module and a space may be formed between the holding member 130 and the main body by the holders 132 a and 132 b. Therefore, the support unit of the suction module may rotate between the formed spaces. In this case, the holding member 130 may include recesses 131 a to 131 d to be fixed to the bottom surface of the main body, but it is not limited thereto and the holding member 130 may be fixed to the bottom surface of the main body by various methods.

Specifically, the holding member 130 may include a first holder 132 a which covers the first support unit of the suction module and an end of the first support unit, a second holder 132 b which covers the second support unit of the suction module and an end of the second support unit, and a connecting unit 132 c which connects the first holder 132 a and the second holder 132 b. Therefore, the holding member 130 including the first holder 132 a and the second holder 132 b may fix the first support unit and the second support unit of the suction module to one side of the main body so as to allow the main brush to be rotatable within a predetermined distance, depending on the surface condition of the floor.

That is, a thickness D1 of a portion of the holder which covers the end of the support unit which is a rotating shaft for lifting up or down the suction module is larger than a thickness D2 of a portion of the holder which lifts up or down the suction module so that a space where the support unit of the suction module is movable may be formed therein.

Therefore, a movable distance of the suction module may be formed within the thickness D2. That is, a rotatable angle of the suction module may be formed within the thickness D2.

In the present invention, as an example, a holding member including two holders to fix two support units, which serve as a lever of the main brush, to one side of the main body has been described, but is not limited thereto and one or a plurality of holders may be provided depending on the number of support units.

A suction structure of a robot vacuum cleaner according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include an elastic member (for example, a flat spring) which applies a restoring force directed toward the downward side of the ground to the suction module in addition to gravity when the suction module whose one side is fixed by the holding member 130 needs to be lifted up from the ground in accordance with the surface condition of the area to be cleaned and then lifted down again to the ground again in accordance with the surface condition of the area to be cleaned. In the exemplary embodiment, the support unit is located on the fixed holding member and the elastic member is disposed between the support unit and the holding member. The elastic member desirably has a restoring force to be restored to a contracted state in a state in which the elastic member is expanded (a state in which the interval between the holding member and the support unit is widened). Therefore, the elastic member may enhance the contact between the main brush included in the suction module and the ground to improve the cleaning efficiency.

The above-mentioned elastic member may be located in a space formed by the holder included in the holding member 130 which covers the end of the support unit included in the suction module. The elastic member may be a metal flat spring having restoring force, but is not limited thereto. FIGS. 6A and 6B are views illustrating a state in which a suction module is lifted up or down.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the suction module mounted on the bottom surface of the robot vacuum cleaner is lifted up or down in accordance with the surface condition of the floor and FIG. 6A illustrates a state 610 in which the suction module is lifted up and FIG. 6B illustrates a state 620 in which the suction nodule is lifted down.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, the suction module may be lifted up or down and the flow path connection unit connected to one side of the suction module is inserted into the flow path to be lifted up or down together in accordance with the lifting up or down of the suction module so that the cleaning efficiency is improved and a cleaning performance may be desirably maintained even on various types of carpets, regardless of the surface condition of the floor.

Even though all components of the exemplary embodiment may be combined as one component or operates to be combined, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment. In other words, all components may be selectively combined to be operated within a scope of the present invention.

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention which have been described above are examples and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are provided for illustrative purposes only but not intended to limit the technical concept of the present disclosure. The scope of the technical concept of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted based on the following appended claims and it should be appreciated that all technical spirits included within a range equivalent thereto are included in the protection scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A suction structure of a robot vacuum cleaner which sucks foreign matters while traveling an area to be cleaned, the suction structure comprising: a suction module which is located on a bottom surface of a main body of the robot vacuum cleaner and sucks foreign matters while rotating in accordance with a surface condition of the area to be cleaned; and a holding member which fixes one side of the suction module to be rotatable within a predetermined distance.
 2. The suction structure according to claim 1, wherein the suction module includes: a main brush which sucks the foreign matters while rotating in accordance with the surface condition of the area to be cleaned; a housing unit in which the main brush is disposed; and a support unit which is formed at one side of the housing unit to be mounted in the main body and supports the main brush to rotate in accordance with the surface condition of the area to be cleaned.
 3. The suction structure according to claim 2, wherein the main brush includes: a blade which rotates to guide the foreign substances into the main body; and a rotating shaft which is coupled to the blade to rotate the blade.
 4. The suction structure according to claim 3, wherein one end of the rotating shaft is open to be coupled to a motor which supplies power to rotate the blade.
 5. The suction structure according to claim 3, wherein the housing unit includes: a deviation preventing unit which prevents the main brush from deviating while the blade rotates.
 6. The suction structure according to claim 2, wherein the holding member fixes the support unit to one side of the main body so that the main brush rotates within a predetermined distance and forms a space where the support unit is lifted up or down.
 7. The suction structure according to claim 6, wherein the holding member includes: a holder which covers the end of the support unit to be fixed to one side of the main body so that the main brush rotates within a predetermined distance.
 8. The suction structure according to claim 7, further comprising: an elastic member which is located in a space formed between the support unit and the holding member to enhance the contact between the main brush and the area to be cleaned.
 9. The suction structure according to claim 2, wherein the support unit includes: a first support unit and a second support unit which are formed at one side of the housing unit to be mounted in the main body and are disposed in parallel to be spaced apart from each other.
 10. The suction structure according to claim 9, wherein the holding member includes: a first holder which covers an end of the first support unit; a second holder which covers an end of the second support unit; and a connecting unit which connects the first holder and the second holder, and the first holder and the second holder fix the first support unit and the second support unit to one side of the main body, respectively, so that the main brush rotates within a predetermined distance.
 11. The suction structure according to claim 9, wherein ends of the first support unit and the second support unit are formed in a cylindrical shape to allow the main brush to be lifted up or down.
 12. The suction structure according to claim 2, wherein the suction module further includes: a flow path connecting unit which is formed at one side of the housing unit to be inserted into a flow path unit formed in the main body.
 13. The suction structure according to claim 12, wherein the flow path connecting unit has a pipe shape having a rectangular cross section to form a flow path.
 14. The suction structure according to claim 12, wherein the flow path connecting unit is inserted into the flow path unit formed in the main body to maintain a predetermined interval from an inside of the flow path into which the outside thereof is inserted.
 15. The suction structure according to claim 12, wherein the flow path connecting unit is lifted up or down in the flow path unit formed in the main body as the suction module rotates in accordance with the surface condition of the floor. 